As custodians of life, our families, our communities, the earth, we know the awe of responsibility. But how do we listen to the real need – both in ourselves and in life?For many years I have listened to women tell stories about their lives. Women who share dreams they have at night, and images that arise in meditation or while engaged in some daily task like washing dishes.I believe these stories and wisdom have to do with a language that is emerging, to help women understand how we can … [Read more...]

For the last two years I have sung in a gospel choir that has changed my life. A chorister since I was seven, I have ever prided myself on my technique and my discipline. So it is that I found my first few months with this choir challenging. I didn’t understand why our conductor wasn’t stricter, why he didn’t correct our rhythms more, why he didn’t direct the dynamics of every phrase. “When was he going to kick us into shape?” I wondered. We needed a little bit of the hard stick.This is a sma … [Read more...]

When I was part of an Episcopal Women to Women trip to Jerusalem, we went to a chapel called Dominus Flevit on the western slope of the Mount of Olives just across the KidronValley from Jerusalem. The church designed in the shape of a teardrop has a picture window overlooking the city and at the foot of the altar is a mosaic of a mother hen gathering her chicks under her wings recalling Christ’s words “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! Ho … [Read more...]

Here at Women of Spirit and Faith we are all about weaving connections...So...one of our lovely young leaders, Ayesha Mattu hosts a blog called "Love InshAllah: The Secret Love Lives of American Muslim Women" (also the title of her extraordinary book).This month Love InshAllah reviews a beautiful collection of poetry from poet, mother and rabbi, Rachel Barenblat. In Waiting To Unfold Rabbi Barenblat documents her pregnancy and the first year of her son’s life through her powerful v … [Read more...]

I married young in order to have somewhere to shelter my siblings, as we came from parents whose parenting consisted in religion-prescribed punishment. The matriarch whom I chose as my mother-in law was happy to include me and my family under her huge heart and in her powerful arms. Tragically, she was taken by cancer before the birth of her first grandchild, a girl. During her dying, my husband was also dying; his manhood was dependent on his mother's strength. I was still an … [Read more...]

Mother. When most people think about the word, they think of the woman who raised them as a child. But what does the word mother really mean? Does it have something to do with the person who raised you? Or is there more to the word then there seems at first glance? From my perspective, a mother is someone who takes care of others, a person who helps someone that cannot help him/herself.For me helping others is something I enjoy very much. I am planning on going on my fourth mission trip … [Read more...]

Women of Spirit and Faith has joined with multiple organizations to invite events across the Earth on Mother's Day in celebration of Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunties - ALL women - as the Earth's original peacekeepers. As part of the celebrations, we extend an invitation to you to send us a blog of 300-700 words on the topic of "Mother Work". Included in this broad concept is not only traditional mothering – caring for children – but also all of the other ways in which we express our role as care … [Read more...]

About Women of Spirit and Faith

Women of Spirit and Faith is an active community of diverse women exploring, nurturing and celebrating women’s spiritual leadership. You are invited to become involved through Local Circles, Young Leaders, Networking Partners, social media and more.

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Welcome to the “Women of Spirit and Faith” blog: You Are Invited to Add Your Voice

You are invited to contribute to this collaborative blog. We welcome your voice and wisdom, your poetry and prose, your questions and candor.

Each month at the Divine Feminine we explore a new question. The Parliament of the World’s Religions called together thousands of deeply spiritual women who brought their leadership, wisdom, vitality and faith to the many conversations, workshops, events and programs there. This Parliament featured the first- ever Women’s Assembly to focus us on important issues at the intersection of religions and women’s human rights. This big conversation from the plenary stage was complimented and enriched by hundreds of women’s workshops and performances, gatherings and offerings, prayers and rituals. Our blog invites the stories and reflections

of women who attended the Parliament

of women who helped to hold the sacred space for our convergence

of women who anchored their own local gatherings in solidarity with the Parliament

of women who experienced the Parliament through photos, films, articles and posts on social media

What touched your heart? What stirred you to a new kind of activism? What visions and dreams wish to be added to the pattern? Please send us a blog of 300-900 words. Please include a photo of yourself and a one sentence bio, and send it to The Divine Feminine Blog.

We also hope to create a conversation around the posts, so please add your comments and questions to any blogger who stirs up something within you.